In PHOTOS: Pakistan plunges into darkness

Pakistan plunges into darkness

Cities across Pakistan, including the capital, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar, plunged into darkness on Sunday after a major breakdown in the national power grid, officials said.

The blackout began at about 11.30 pm after a privately run 1,200 MW thermal power plant in southwestern Balochistan province developed a fault and stopped generating electricity.

"The HUBCO (Hub Power Company) plant developed a fault and the load was transferred to the Mangla and Tarbela hydel projects but they tripped. After that, several smaller powerhouses tripped," Javed Parvez, CEO of the Islamabad Electric Supply Company, told the media.

Pakistan plunges into darkness

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Prime Minister's house said the premier had ordered an inquiry into the power breakdown.

Experts in the Ministry of Power and Water said keeping aside the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation which is a private entity national power plants produce around 9,000 megawatts of power in the country.

"Around 3,500 megawatts supply was disrupted initially and when the load was shifted to other power stations like Mangla and Tarbela tripped and led to this major breakdown," one expert said.